Outlook Jake Bauers
Jake Bauers holds down the primary first base role for the division-leading Brewers, offering massive power potential in an upcoming Coors Field trip.
Jake Bauers has established himself as the everyday first baseman for the first-place Brewers, who lead the division with a 37-22 record. Although his bat has cooled over the last 14 days with a .189 batting average, his 30-day sample is outstanding, yielding a .306 average, five home runs, and 17 RBI. Fully healthy and secure in his starting role, Bauers remains a key focal point of Milwaukee's offense.
Under the hood, some regression is expected, as our models project a .213 average and 12 home runs rest-of-season, aligning closer to his career .201 average in 2024. However, his current 2026 slash line of .270 with 10 home runs over 52 games suggests genuine growth. While his elevated strikeout rate over the last month hints at batting average volatility, his improved quality of contact validates his sustained power breakout.
The upcoming schedule offers an absolute dream scenario for Bauers, wrapping up a series against San Francisco's Adrian Houser (5.83 ERA) before heading to Colorado. The weekend series at Coors Field features matchups against Ryan Feltner (4.85 ERA), Tanner Gordon (6.37 ERA), and Kyle Freeland (8.06 ERA). Given these exceptionally favorable matchups and hitting environments, Bauers is an elite option. Verdict: Start.
Updated 1 day ago
Latest News Jake Bauers
Outlook Josh Naylor
Josh Naylor Looks to Shake Off Brief Slump as First-Place Mariners Head to Detroit
Josh Naylor has hit a minor speed bump over the last week, batting just .158, but his larger sample remains solid with a .286 average and eight stolen bases over his last 30 games. He continues to secure his role as Seattle's everyday first baseman, a critical anchor for a first-place Mariners squad (33-30) that is currently missing catcher Cal Raleigh to injury.
While his current .250 season average sits below his .272 rest-of-season projection, Naylor's speed has been a revelation with 12 steals already, putting him on pace to approach his career-high 32 swipes from 2025. Our models expect his current modest power pace (six homers) to pick up and align closer to his projected 20-homer season ceiling, making him a rare speed-and-power threat at first base.
With the week already underway, the Mariners have three games remaining in Detroit starting Friday. Naylor will face Framber Valdez (4.39 ERA), Keider Montero (3.69 ERA), and Jack Flaherty, who presents a highly favorable matchup due to his 5.53 ERA and 1.66 WHIP. Keep him active in all formats. Verdict: Start.
Updated 1 day ago
